Jacksonville club to reopen

The Orleans House is ready for today’s reopening. The club is celebrating the reopening of its doors after almost three months out of operation after its liquor license was revoked.

Chuck Beckley/The Daily News

By KATIE HANSEN Daily News staff

Published: Friday, July 19, 2013 at 08:00 AM.

A local Jacksonville club is celebrating the reopening of its doors after almost three months out of operation after its liquor license was revoked.

The Orleans House, located at 1319 Lejeune Blvd., had its permits to sell beer and mixed beverages suspended in April by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission after the Jacksonville Police Department submitted affidavits of “several incidents of violence and numerous calls for service” and the sale of alcohol to an underage person in the last two years, according to a press release from ABC in April.

Orleans House reopens Friday at noon. Owner Gail Justice says she proved to state authorities that her bar never broke the law.

“Once (ABC) found all the evidence, they were fine with us having our permits back; we didn’t even have to go to a hearing,” she said. “And most of the time when you do something wrong, you have to wait for a hearing and you have to go plead your case.”

According to an ABC Commission news release of the summary suspension, the JPD had provided sworn statements of incidents at Orleans House where people were seriously injured and that there was a brawl there involving 50 to 70 people. The release also stated the JPD provided a sworn statement of sale of alcohol to an underage person.

Justice said she went to ABC with security footage from the club.

“We took the video to Raleigh to ABC to show them we did everything right,” Justice said. “That we weren’t allowing fighting, my security guards did their jobs, they found the fake I.D., and that she got kicked out. That was on camera also, that she got kicked out.”

A local Jacksonville club is celebrating the reopening of its doors after almost three months out of operation after its liquor license was revoked.

The Orleans House, located at 1319 Lejeune Blvd., had its permits to sell beer and mixed beverages suspended in April by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission after the Jacksonville Police Department submitted affidavits of “several incidents of violence and numerous calls for service” and the sale of alcohol to an underage person in the last two years, according to a press release from ABC in April.

Orleans House reopens Friday at noon. Owner Gail Justice says she proved to state authorities that her bar never broke the law.

“Once (ABC) found all the evidence, they were fine with us having our permits back; we didn’t even have to go to a hearing,” she said. “And most of the time when you do something wrong, you have to wait for a hearing and you have to go plead your case.”

According to an ABC Commission news release of the summary suspension, the JPD had provided sworn statements of incidents at Orleans House where people were seriously injured and that there was a brawl there involving 50 to 70 people. The release also stated the JPD provided a sworn statement of sale of alcohol to an underage person.

Justice said she went to ABC with security footage from the club.

“We took the video to Raleigh to ABC to show them we did everything right,” Justice said. “That we weren’t allowing fighting, my security guards did their jobs, they found the fake I.D., and that she got kicked out. That was on camera also, that she got kicked out.”

In addition, Justice said an incident on April 18, where a woman was found “drenched with blood from neck to feet,” from multiple stabbings according to the summary suspension order, actually occurred on the service road away from the club.

Justice got her permits reinstated last week on condition of working with the Jacksonville Police Department to ensure they increased some security measures. Jacksonville Police Chief Mike Yaniero recommended in a July 1 letter addressed to ABC legal counsel that ABC restore the permits, and they were renewed July 11. Yaniero recommended the renewal based on certain stipulations.

Stipulations included that the establishment submit to regular unannounced inspections “to ensure compliance during the next 12 months by police department staff” and and cooperate with the JPD staff on any potential or actual law violations.

The bar also made security changes agreed upon with JPD “to build a better relationship with the Jacksonville Police Department,” Orleans House attorney Keith Fountain wrote in a July 1 letter to Yaniero.

Some of those improvements included establishing a “no-loiter” policy in the parking lot, installing five cameras inside and outside the establishment, increasing communication with JPD regarding any incidents on the premises, prohibiting glass in restrooms and assigning security to the parking lot on special nights.

JPD officials confirmed Thursday that Justice has been working with the department. They added that charges filed against Justice have not been dropped. Justice has been charged with one count of allowing fighting/disorderly conduct, according to the North Carolina Court System.

“Our goal is to provide a safe environment for the business patrons and our citizens,” Yaniero said.

Justice said she has added more lights in the parking lot and hired more security to ensure better safety in the establishment.

“I’ve always had a lot of security,” she said. “I’ve always had about 10 to 15 security guys.”

Justice owns another bar, Happy Hour, located at 246 Wilmington Hwy. in Jacksonville. When Orleans House shut down for three months, Justice tried her best to keep her staff employed by taking them on at the Happy Hour.

“Most of my people have been with me for years,” she said.

Justice also said her bar does not catere to just one demographic. Patrons range in age from 21 to 50.

During the months it was closed, the bar has undergone renovations, Justice said. New tables have been installed so patrons can dance and sing on them for group karaoke. The bar also has and outside deck, pool tables, a DJ and dance floor.

The Orleans House’s grand reopening is at noon today. They will operate from noon to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday and from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.